Moving House - a Cats Tail
Posted: Thu 18 Aug 2016 10:02 am
KAR pet Travel recently relocated a cat - Sid Dervish - from the TRNC to the UK. Sid has written to us about his experience which we would like to share with you. enjoy.
MOVING HOUSE – A CAT’S TAIL
By Sid Dervis
Well, here I am in England. Having been born in Kyrenia in hot North Cyprus it is all a bit strange right now. I have taken care of my humans, Mum & Dad, since I was very young.
This all started for me in middle of May when they came back from England. They told me they had sold our house in Karsiyaka and that the 3 of us were moving to a new house in England. Sadly we could not take my old friends Miss Ginger, Mr Jet and George because they did not live in the house. It all started to make sense from what had happened last year when I had been back and forwards to Uncle Pertev having injections and blood stolen from my leg. This was so I had the right papers to go to England, I had wondered about this but now….!
After they came back there was a lot happening which got us all uptight. Stuff was put into boxes and a man came and took away some of our furniture. Then he took all the flowers that were in the pots in the garden. Slowly our house was disappearing into boxes and furniture was wrapped up in the plastic bubbly stuff. It was all a bit weird.
Then one day in middle of June a big wagon arrived outside the house with about 10 men who put everything from the house into the wagon and then everything was gone!! Well not quite everything, there was a bed for them and 3 chairs they had borrowed so we all had somewhere to sit and watch television!!
For the next 2 weeks it suddenly got very hot. Nobody moved much, especially us cats. We could not walk far because the floor was too hot to walk on. Because my humans had sent everything away they could not cook so they spent nearly every night eating out.
A big grey box had arrived at the house a few weeks ago which they had tried to get me to go into. Then I found out why! I had hurt my foot one Sunday night so they pushed me into the box to go and see Uncle Pertev on Monday morning. My leg was two times the size of the other one. Pertev said I must have been bitten or stung and insisted on sticking needles in me..AGAIN! I had to go again on Tuesday and Wednesday. That said this box was much better than the old basket they used to carry me in, I can actually move round in this one.
Then on Saturday 25th June it happened. I got shoved into the box again and we set off in car. But this time we did not follow usual road we go on so I was a bit worried. When we got out of the car I was pushed into a big cage with beds, ramps and places to sit. There was another cat in room next door and 4 others in the place. There was a nice lady called Yasmin who was looking after, what I found out was, a cat hotel. Mum & Dad left saying they would see me again next Friday and told me everything would be OK.
Yeah OK!!! I did not like the cat in the next room, sorry but we just did not like each other. So after a couple of days of arguing Yasmin moved me into a nice bedroom in her house. She was really nice, she came and stroked me and chatted with me. It was ok but I did miss going outside. I did eventually eat some food because Yasmin said it was better for me and I used the inside toilet. I was not happy with my humans leaving me though.
On Wednesday I was given my breakfast very early then put in a box AGAIN!! Yasmin kept telling me how good I was and that my humans would see me again soon but I was not happy at all. The basket was not mine either but Yasmin said I would get mine back later; this one was just to take me in the car. Next I was taken into a shop where there were other cats and dogs. I was still not happy. Another nice lady said she had met my humans and she was pleased to meet me her name was Kim, and she would be looking after me on the next part of my trip. Then it was back into my box and all fastened in for another ride in another car. I was with 2 other cats this time and they were as fed up as I was. They told me they had dog friends who had left them earlier and they did not know what was happening. After some time in the car we were all taken into a big building and eventually Kim, who had filled up our water bowls and had been doing paperwork with the men in uniforms while chatting to us, had to leave. She said that we would be ok and it would all be worth it as we would have a very happy life in England – did we believe her???. I could not believe what happened next, we cats were put inside one of those airplanes that Mum & Dad have told me about – it was huge. When it moved it was very noisy and we did not like it. It felt strange when it was moving. But after a while we got used to it and settled down to wait – wondering what would happen next.
After a couple of hours we stopped moving and we were moved from the airplane to another building where we spent the night. We were told that we were in Istanbul – well I had been told about Istanbul by Mum & Dad as they had been there. If this building was Istanbul I can’t say I was impressed!
Next morning we were moved again and put in yet another aeroplane. This time it was a lot longer journey so the three of us eventually went to sleep. When we stopped some more new people collected us and took us to a building where we was taken out of our baskets and each of us were put in a big cage where we could move around more. I also got fed but it wasn’t the same as Mums dinners. I had a lot of things stuck on my travelling box which the new people took off and read, apparently this was my UK entry paperwork that Kim had prepared and my medical books that Uncle Pertev used to write in after he stuck needles in me. I was picked up and looked at by the people who said I was OK and could go to my new home in England. So this was England which I have heard a lot about but never thought I would go there. I was told my humans would see me tomorrow so had to stay in this cage for a night.
Early Friday morning a nice man put me in my travel box again but this time I was amazed to find my blanket was in the box and he told me my Mum & Dad were waiting for me. I did not know if I should be happy or ignore them but there they were looking so happy. I ignored them for a bit but really I was happy to see them. Still in my box I was put on the back seat of a car I had never seen before. But here I was outside in this place they call England.
Apparently Mum & Dad had been in a hotel not far away but they told me it was better that way because it was too far for Dad to have driven if they had collected me last night. I was not pleased but when we finished our drive in the car I understood cos it was about 5 hours.
It was strange driving in a new car, I could not see as much as I could in our Cyprus car but Mum sat with me all the way and talked, stroked and brushed me occasionally. Also it was very strange seeing lots of big cars and things I had not seen before. Eventually we stopped and got out of the car. The first person I meet is Granddad. I have chatted with him on Skype so it was not too strange.
After wandering around the house to find things I had a drink and something to eat then I let Granddad stroke me and after a while sat with him. For some reason Mum & Dad were surprised that I did this - but he was letting me stay in his house.
For a few days it was all a bit of an adventure but then I started to get bored stuck in the house. Dad was not amused when I kept waking him up at 4 in the morning. Then I went back to sleep!! I could look out of the windows but I did not really like that because there was people and cars driving past all the time and I could not understand what they all were. At my old house all these things were up the drive and behind a big wall. So I hid in Granddads sock drawer a lot of the time.
We did have a visit from people I had spoke to on Skype, Terry & Sharon and children Emily & Grace. It was nice to have a stroke from somebody new. Apparently they are going to Greece next week on holiday somewhere we Turkish cats do not know about. Shame they are not going to visit my country. I also met my Aunty Sue who is Dads sister.
Then on 11th July I was back in my box and in the car again! Mum kept telling me that this was the last part of the journey. All right for her to say, she was not sat in a big box. But we stopped outside another house and we went in. Oh dear, there is no furniture just my basket and some small chairs. This is my new home here in England but our stuff has not yet arrived from Cyprus. It was back on our mobile blow up bed as well.
They will still not let me outside, apparently I need to make sure I have all my smells right for the new house and will be best when all my stuff arrives so I know this is home.
Dad is happy because they have bought a TV for us to watch but internet will not be ready for another week so I have not been able to write to my friends.
On Friday I finally met some more family I had spoke to. Harry (mums brother) & Christine and there son Richard. Again I let them all stroke me to keep them happy.
Monday 18th my furniture arrives. The big container we loaded in Cyprus arrived outside and two men helped unload all my things. It is so good to finally have my own things in the house, a sofa to sit on, toys to play with, and a bed to sleep in. The last few nights I know I have kept Mum & Dad awake by running around and jumping at the windows but tonight I will sleep.
Monday I also finally got to go outside. There were some very strange noises and houses and fences all around. But I know I can run back into my safe house. There are lots of strange smells as well that I will have to spend time sorting out.
Over the next few days I spend time checking that all my stuff has arrived while Mum & Dad unpack all the boxes and unwrap things. I also wander in and out to the garden but they always follow me to make sure I do not escape from our garden. Then on Thursday night I got my chance, they thought I was happy just smelling my own things and ignored me so I took the chance and climbed out. After about 10 minutes I was on top of a fence away from my garden when they finally came looking for me. Too late!! For the next couple of hours I climbed fences, I was on the roof of buildings and investigating other gardens. All the time they were shouting my name and rattling my food bowl. I could see them and hear them but I was enjoying myself. It was probably better because it was dark and there were not too many strange noises and most people had gone to bed. Eventually I decided to go back home because I needed to go to the toilet. For some reason I was picked up and given lots of cuddles but I was happy.
I think that lady Kim may have been right – it was all worth it because YES we are going to have a happy life in this place they call England
MOVING HOUSE – A CAT’S TAIL
By Sid Dervis
This all started for me in middle of May when they came back from England. They told me they had sold our house in Karsiyaka and that the 3 of us were moving to a new house in England. Sadly we could not take my old friends Miss Ginger, Mr Jet and George because they did not live in the house. It all started to make sense from what had happened last year when I had been back and forwards to Uncle Pertev having injections and blood stolen from my leg. This was so I had the right papers to go to England, I had wondered about this but now….!
After they came back there was a lot happening which got us all uptight. Stuff was put into boxes and a man came and took away some of our furniture. Then he took all the flowers that were in the pots in the garden. Slowly our house was disappearing into boxes and furniture was wrapped up in the plastic bubbly stuff. It was all a bit weird.
Then one day in middle of June a big wagon arrived outside the house with about 10 men who put everything from the house into the wagon and then everything was gone!! Well not quite everything, there was a bed for them and 3 chairs they had borrowed so we all had somewhere to sit and watch television!!
For the next 2 weeks it suddenly got very hot. Nobody moved much, especially us cats. We could not walk far because the floor was too hot to walk on. Because my humans had sent everything away they could not cook so they spent nearly every night eating out.
A big grey box had arrived at the house a few weeks ago which they had tried to get me to go into. Then I found out why! I had hurt my foot one Sunday night so they pushed me into the box to go and see Uncle Pertev on Monday morning. My leg was two times the size of the other one. Pertev said I must have been bitten or stung and insisted on sticking needles in me..AGAIN! I had to go again on Tuesday and Wednesday. That said this box was much better than the old basket they used to carry me in, I can actually move round in this one.
Then on Saturday 25th June it happened. I got shoved into the box again and we set off in car. But this time we did not follow usual road we go on so I was a bit worried. When we got out of the car I was pushed into a big cage with beds, ramps and places to sit. There was another cat in room next door and 4 others in the place. There was a nice lady called Yasmin who was looking after, what I found out was, a cat hotel. Mum & Dad left saying they would see me again next Friday and told me everything would be OK.
Yeah OK!!! I did not like the cat in the next room, sorry but we just did not like each other. So after a couple of days of arguing Yasmin moved me into a nice bedroom in her house. She was really nice, she came and stroked me and chatted with me. It was ok but I did miss going outside. I did eventually eat some food because Yasmin said it was better for me and I used the inside toilet. I was not happy with my humans leaving me though.
On Wednesday I was given my breakfast very early then put in a box AGAIN!! Yasmin kept telling me how good I was and that my humans would see me again soon but I was not happy at all. The basket was not mine either but Yasmin said I would get mine back later; this one was just to take me in the car. Next I was taken into a shop where there were other cats and dogs. I was still not happy. Another nice lady said she had met my humans and she was pleased to meet me her name was Kim, and she would be looking after me on the next part of my trip. Then it was back into my box and all fastened in for another ride in another car. I was with 2 other cats this time and they were as fed up as I was. They told me they had dog friends who had left them earlier and they did not know what was happening. After some time in the car we were all taken into a big building and eventually Kim, who had filled up our water bowls and had been doing paperwork with the men in uniforms while chatting to us, had to leave. She said that we would be ok and it would all be worth it as we would have a very happy life in England – did we believe her???. I could not believe what happened next, we cats were put inside one of those airplanes that Mum & Dad have told me about – it was huge. When it moved it was very noisy and we did not like it. It felt strange when it was moving. But after a while we got used to it and settled down to wait – wondering what would happen next.
After a couple of hours we stopped moving and we were moved from the airplane to another building where we spent the night. We were told that we were in Istanbul – well I had been told about Istanbul by Mum & Dad as they had been there. If this building was Istanbul I can’t say I was impressed!
Next morning we were moved again and put in yet another aeroplane. This time it was a lot longer journey so the three of us eventually went to sleep. When we stopped some more new people collected us and took us to a building where we was taken out of our baskets and each of us were put in a big cage where we could move around more. I also got fed but it wasn’t the same as Mums dinners. I had a lot of things stuck on my travelling box which the new people took off and read, apparently this was my UK entry paperwork that Kim had prepared and my medical books that Uncle Pertev used to write in after he stuck needles in me. I was picked up and looked at by the people who said I was OK and could go to my new home in England. So this was England which I have heard a lot about but never thought I would go there. I was told my humans would see me tomorrow so had to stay in this cage for a night.
Early Friday morning a nice man put me in my travel box again but this time I was amazed to find my blanket was in the box and he told me my Mum & Dad were waiting for me. I did not know if I should be happy or ignore them but there they were looking so happy. I ignored them for a bit but really I was happy to see them. Still in my box I was put on the back seat of a car I had never seen before. But here I was outside in this place they call England.
Apparently Mum & Dad had been in a hotel not far away but they told me it was better that way because it was too far for Dad to have driven if they had collected me last night. I was not pleased but when we finished our drive in the car I understood cos it was about 5 hours.
It was strange driving in a new car, I could not see as much as I could in our Cyprus car but Mum sat with me all the way and talked, stroked and brushed me occasionally. Also it was very strange seeing lots of big cars and things I had not seen before. Eventually we stopped and got out of the car. The first person I meet is Granddad. I have chatted with him on Skype so it was not too strange.
After wandering around the house to find things I had a drink and something to eat then I let Granddad stroke me and after a while sat with him. For some reason Mum & Dad were surprised that I did this - but he was letting me stay in his house.
For a few days it was all a bit of an adventure but then I started to get bored stuck in the house. Dad was not amused when I kept waking him up at 4 in the morning. Then I went back to sleep!! I could look out of the windows but I did not really like that because there was people and cars driving past all the time and I could not understand what they all were. At my old house all these things were up the drive and behind a big wall. So I hid in Granddads sock drawer a lot of the time.
We did have a visit from people I had spoke to on Skype, Terry & Sharon and children Emily & Grace. It was nice to have a stroke from somebody new. Apparently they are going to Greece next week on holiday somewhere we Turkish cats do not know about. Shame they are not going to visit my country. I also met my Aunty Sue who is Dads sister.
Then on 11th July I was back in my box and in the car again! Mum kept telling me that this was the last part of the journey. All right for her to say, she was not sat in a big box. But we stopped outside another house and we went in. Oh dear, there is no furniture just my basket and some small chairs. This is my new home here in England but our stuff has not yet arrived from Cyprus. It was back on our mobile blow up bed as well.
They will still not let me outside, apparently I need to make sure I have all my smells right for the new house and will be best when all my stuff arrives so I know this is home.
Dad is happy because they have bought a TV for us to watch but internet will not be ready for another week so I have not been able to write to my friends.
On Friday I finally met some more family I had spoke to. Harry (mums brother) & Christine and there son Richard. Again I let them all stroke me to keep them happy.
Monday 18th my furniture arrives. The big container we loaded in Cyprus arrived outside and two men helped unload all my things. It is so good to finally have my own things in the house, a sofa to sit on, toys to play with, and a bed to sleep in. The last few nights I know I have kept Mum & Dad awake by running around and jumping at the windows but tonight I will sleep.
Monday I also finally got to go outside. There were some very strange noises and houses and fences all around. But I know I can run back into my safe house. There are lots of strange smells as well that I will have to spend time sorting out.
Over the next few days I spend time checking that all my stuff has arrived while Mum & Dad unpack all the boxes and unwrap things. I also wander in and out to the garden but they always follow me to make sure I do not escape from our garden. Then on Thursday night I got my chance, they thought I was happy just smelling my own things and ignored me so I took the chance and climbed out. After about 10 minutes I was on top of a fence away from my garden when they finally came looking for me. Too late!! For the next couple of hours I climbed fences, I was on the roof of buildings and investigating other gardens. All the time they were shouting my name and rattling my food bowl. I could see them and hear them but I was enjoying myself. It was probably better because it was dark and there were not too many strange noises and most people had gone to bed. Eventually I decided to go back home because I needed to go to the toilet. For some reason I was picked up and given lots of cuddles but I was happy.
I think that lady Kim may have been right – it was all worth it because YES we are going to have a happy life in this place they call England